Saturday, October 26, 2013

This man whom I met in the temple of God in Manila has made me realized how important is the family. I am fully convinced then that family could be together forever after I performed the temple ordinance for my wife and me, and my children.

This greatest experience is a part and parcel of my spiritual being for 33 years of my membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I have strong testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and even the truthfulness of this Church as I stay close to the Church and nurture my faith together with my family all-out support.Because of our faithfulness to the Church and as we keep our covenant too, we have received many blessings which are beyond measure so to speak. They take several forms. We know that God really loves us. He wouldn't forsake us especially when we are in our dire needs. He really answers our prayers. He wants us to follow His plan of salvation for our redemption from the Fall.

God's Plan

It took me 4 years to be converted to this Church. It is not because that I have found it hard to believe on the doctrine which this Church has been teaching me, not because I want to investigate more on the genuineness of this Church especially its leader or president who is considered as their living Prophet, not because Joseph Smith has seen the three personages in the holy groove that I want to make myself about by searching more, not because the Book of Mormon has been translated from the golden plates by an ordinary man by the name of Joseph Smith with the aid of Oliver Cowdery, and not because this Church has received several modern day revelations which they consider as the scriptures like the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price; mainly because I was not contacted anymore by the missionaries just after the last two missionaries visited our humble nipa hut which the kitchen part of it was accidentally destroyed by a Samoan missionary.

My Conversion

After a series of Gospel teaching , Elder Wagner and Elder Arturo Tolentino con converted me. On April 20, 1980, Elder Arturo Tolentino baptized me and Elder Wagner confirmed as member of the Church. And in June 22 of the same year, I baptized my wife, Rebecca, and later the whole member of my family, especially my children who had reached the age of accountability, that is, 8 years ago. I was almost a satisfied member of the Church when our youngest son, Gilbor Junior served a 2-year mission in Philippines Butuan Mission and got married at the temple in Cebu a year after he has returned from a mission.

Six years later after I became member of the Church, an event which I may consider as the greatest spiritual achievement in my life when my wife and I were sealed for time and eternity in the Manila Philippines Temple. It was on September 28, 1986 when I met a good, humble man who witnessed this temple ordinance. This man later became the general authority of the Church as the member of the quorum of the Seventy.

Meeting This Man

I know God is so kind that He has given me a time to extend my warm regards to this man upon meeting his eldest daughter who currently is the adviser of the Area Church History in the Philippines in a meeting we have had with the Church historians, executive secretaries and clerks of the southern stakes and districts in Negros Occidental.

Sister Melanie Reyes Gapiz was so glad upon hearing that regards from me for her father. I told that Elder Ruben G. Gapiz is one of the most key person in my life as a member of the Church. He has witnessed our sealing as husband and wife, and our sealing with our six children as a family.

With a grin, she simply told that her father has already passed away last May 2013 at the age of 73. I was held aback and felt sorry of hearing that unexpected news from Elder Gapiz. Anyway, I just replied, "We will be missing your father, Elder Gapiz. We'll be missing him as a soft-spoken, a good man who has witnessed to my temple sealing ordinance with my wife, and my children for time and eternity." And I went back to the seat beside my youngest son, Gilbor Junior who is also attending the said meeting we have had that day.

12 comments:

You're correct. I was baptized. The baptism ceremony is simply done by a male member who is authorized to do the ordinance inside the Church chapel.If you've an LDS friend or Mormon friend inquire from him/her on how it is done. If possible, you may attend and personally observe how it is performed.

While I respect all religion, the bible for me is truth enough, nothing more nothing less. It's good though if one's conviction is that he is in the truth, as for Ecclesiastes 12:13 saying "Fear the true God and keep his commandments. For this is the whole obligation of man.” - knowing who the true God is comes first.

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